Inhibitory effects of ibogaine on cocaine self-administration in rats

Introduction

Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid from the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga that has traditional stimulant and hallucinogenic uses and has attracted attention for possible anti-addictive effects. Previous animal and uncontrolled human observations suggested that ibogaine can attenuate opioid withdrawal symptoms and reduce self-administration of substances such as morphine, and anecdotal reports have claimed interruption of cocaine, amphetamine, alcohol and nicotine dependence. However, controlled preclinical data on ibogaine’s effects specifically on cocaine intake were limited and partly inconsistent. Cappendijk and colleagues set out to test whether ibogaine reduces cocaine self-administration in cocaine-dependent rats. The investigators examined both single and repeated intraperitoneal (i.p.) administrations of ibogaine, using standard operant self-administration procedures, to characterise dose dependence, duration of effect and whether spaced (weekly) versus consecutive-day dosing altered the magnitude or persistence of any inhibitory effect on cocaine intake.